CAMLAW: Complementary and Alternative Medicine Law Blog

Herbs for calm and restful sleep

A dietary supplement company announced release of a product to help "calm the mind and maintain restful sleep."

That's a very clever label - it does not talk about anxiety or insomnia (disease states), but instead makes an artful structure-function claim.

PAC Herbs announced today the release of its new product, iSleep Herb Pac, created to help calm the mind and maintain restful sleep. Made from all-natural Chinese medicinal herbs iSleep users wake up feeling alert with no signs of grogginess or lethargy.

"Sleep is the body's restoration medicine. Without a good night's sleep it's very difficult to function day in and day out," Cathy Margolin, PAC Herbs founder, Herbalist, Acupuncturist, L.Ac. Dip. OM, MTOM, BBA, BA said. "We seem to be working under so much stress, it negatively impacts our sleep, which then impacts the rest of our health. That is why I created iSleep."

Sleep is the body's restoration medicine. Without a good night's sleep it's very difficult to function day in and day out We seem to be working under so much stress, it negatively impacts our sleep, which then impacts the rest of our health. That is why I created iSleep. Restorative sleep is an essential part of a normal, healthy, balanced life. iSleep Herb Pac is not a drug and requires no prescription and should be used to aid occasional insomnia. The formula is non-addictive and is made from Chinese herbs that have been used for centuries to repair the body's natural balance.

This breakthrough sleep aid has been used for centuries in Asia. Studies proving effectiveness and safety have been thoroughly reviewed and conclusively prove our plant medicinals will help users sleep without becoming habit forming. iSleep provides a calming effect to quiet thoughts. When the mind is quiet the body can enjoy a restful night's sleep. Unique to iSleep is the packaging, the herb quality and the extensive testing of the raw products. Packaging in individual packets insures herbs retain their freshness and potency, compared to herbs in capsules, which degrade through exposure to air and moisture. PAC Herbs are processed in a state-of-the-art pharmaceutical facility, which performs over 200 tests on its raw materials to insure herbs are free of possible contaminants. We guarantee that our products work or you get your money back.

iSleep can be taken in the middle of the night or before bedtime for difficulty going to sleep or staying asleep. Dissolve iSleep in warm water and drink as a tea, or place directly on the tongue and swallow. iSleep is fast acting and generally takes effect within 30 minutes. iSleep comes pre-measured and packed in 20-individual servings to ensure quality and freshness and can be purchased for $24.95 online at http://www.pacherbs.com.

PAC Herbs is headquartered in Los Angeles, California. Founder Cathy Margolin, Herbalist, Acupuncturist, L.Ac. Dip. OM, MTOM, BBA, BA, has been committed to bringing health and wellness to the general public through complementary herbal medicine for over 30 years.

PAC Herbs products are the most potent on the market, using the highest quality herbs available that are both safe and effective. Its manufacturing facility has the most advanced equipment to test the raw products and to cook and dry raw herbs. PAC Herbs factories' scientists and researchers have produced several patented technologies and have acquired the most sophisticated equipment to test raw herbs for pesticides and other contaminants. PAC Herbs manufacturing is under strict Current Good Manufacturing Process (cGMP).

Chinese herbal medicine encompasses Acupuncture, Chinese herb formulas and medical massage and has been the primary medicine in Asia for thousands of years. It's become more widespread in the U.S. in the last 10 years. Research in prestigious Western peer-reviewed journals such Journal of the American Medical Association and the Annals of Internal Medicine regularly publish studies proving the effectiveness of Acupuncture and Chinese herbs. Today as the Western world searches for safe, effective and affordable medicine, integrating Chinese herbs is a natural fit. In 2007 alone, Americans spent 33 billion dollars on Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM), most of which was not covered by their health insurance plans. CAM is becoming more mainstream in America every day.

*** The new healthy you education includes information about belly dancing in this blurb:

Community Hospital Health Services Foundation is working hard to brand itself as a premier health education provider in the community.
In 2008, the foundation published the first Women’s Health Resource Guide for Clark and Champaign counties. Later this month, a new, expanded and updated free guide, featuring more than 300 providers and 60 additional pages, will be available for distribution to the public.
In 2008, the foundation began offering free comprehensive reproductive health education to schools, agencies, churches, parents, and professionals who work with youth. Now, the foundation is launching a free family health education series called Tuesdays For You! All these activities are aligned with the national movement toward conserving health care resources by emphasizing wellness, prevention, accurate health information and low-cost alternatives.

Tuesday’s For You! is a four-event series that explores four different themes: holistic and complementary medicine, contagious disease, healthy relationships and food and nutrition. We promise no boring lectures. All events are highly interactive and the information is useful in your daily life.

The foundation is offering several perks to people who take the time to get educated. By becoming a Tuesday’s For You! member and attending events, the public is eligible for prizes, discounts and giveaways all during the year. There is no cost for membership and you can register online at www.communityhospitalfoundation.org or at any event.

Here is an overview of the four events in the series:

• Healthy You — Body, Mind & Soul (Tuesday, Oct. 6, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Upper Valley Mall) is a holistic health expo featuring 26 health professionals with interactive displays, demonstrations and mini-classes. Attendees will be able to experience a variety of approaches to fitness, beauty and well-being, and dozens of door prizes will be drawn during the evening.

Jyothi Puram, M.D., will address attendees at the concourse entrance to Macy’s at the start of the event. Dr. Puram is board certified in internal medicine, specializing in lung and heart disease. Her address, “An Ounce of Prevention Really Is Worth a Pound of Cure,” will introduce a holistic approach to a healthy body, healthy mind and healthy soul.

Professionals operating a variety of booths at the expo will explore all aspects of a healthy body, including weight, fitness, exercise, mobility and flexibility, balance and posture, body composition, body building, natural supplements and vitamins.

Adults and kids will be able to experience rowing, spinning, zumba, masala bhangra and belly dance, interactive XRKADE, the Rossiter System of stretching and the Alexander Technique of body alignment. Muscular-skeletal specialists will include practitioners of cranial sacral therapy and chiropractics. Women will learn about exercises to improve the pelvic floor and for pregnancy and osteoporosis. Also, women will learn about a simple urine test that helps determine long-term risks of developing breast cancer and other estrogen-sensitive cancers.
Adults will be able to take mini classes in yoga, tai chi and qigong, experience a hand or foot reflexology session, watch a demonstration of female self-defense techniques and take an online screening for depression.

A healthy soul is often reflected in how we feel about ourselves. Looking good is feeling good with the help of estheticians, massage therapists, surgeons, stylists and technicians. Men and women can experience aromatherapy, nail art, chair and table massages, mini facials and manicures, and anti-aging, skin and hair consultations.

* * * Here's a release about CAM for rhino...

A new study suggests that a growing segment of patients are turning to complementary and alternative medical therapies to help treat the symptoms of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS).

In a paper presented at the 2009 American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery Foundation (AAO-HNSF) Annual Meeting & OTO EXPO in San Diego, researchers sought to explore the pattern of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use in patients with a prior diagnosis of CRS at a rhinology outpatient clinic in Aberdeen, Scotland.

CRS is defined as a group of disorders characterized by inflammation of the mucosa of the nose and paranasal sinuses of at least 12 weeks duration. The group of CRS disorders annually accounts for as many as 22 million office visits and more than 500,000 emergency department visits in the U.S., according to some estimates.

Questionnaires were provided to 75 patients over a two-month period. The questionnaire consisted of demographic information and whether they had ever used CAM from a list of 49 herbal and non-herbal alternative therapies (such as acupuncture, massage, aloe vera, and cod liver oil). Subjects were also asked why they used CAM, where they learned of CAM, whether they found it efficacious, and whether their general practitioner was aware they were using it.

Sixty-five percent of patients had used CAM. Thirty percent of patients used it for chronic rhinosinusitis. Women were significantly more likely to use CAM than men, according to the statistics. Patients who were employed, married, and had university degrees were also more likely to use CAM. Only 43 percent of CAM users had informed their doctor about the use of the therapy.

Researchers noted that patients were reticent about telling their physician about usage of CAM. Clinicians should enquire as to all the medications being taken by patients, and the dangers of non- compliance with conventional medications should be emphasized to CAM users by their treating physician.

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Title: Complementary medicine usage in chronic rhinosinusitis

Presenters: Jon Newton, Muhammad Shakeel, DO-HNS, Louise Santangeli

Information for the Media: The AAO-HNSF Annual Meeting & OTO EXPO Newsroom will be located in the San Diego Convention Center, Mezzanine Level, Room 14A. Hours of operation: Saturday, October 3, 12 pm to 5 pm; Sunday-Tuesday, October 4 – 6, 7:30 am to 5 pm; and Wednesday, October 7, 7:30 am to 2 pm. The newsroom serves as a work space for credentialed members of the news media. The newsroom is managed and staffed by the AAO-HNS Communications Unit. Please see the AAO-HNS website for media credentialing requirements for the event.

Onsite Newsroom contact: 1-619-525-62021-619-525-6202

About the AAO-HNS

The American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery (www.entnet.org), one of the oldest medical associations in the nation, represents nearly 12,000 physicians and allied health professionals who specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the ear, nose, throat, and related structures of the head and neck. The Academy serves its members by facilitating the advancement of the science and art of medicine related to otolaryngology and by representing the specialty in governmental and socioeconomic issues. The organization's vision: "Empowering otolaryngologist-head and neck surgeons to deliver the best patient care."

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For more information about PAC Herbs or to order its products please visit its website, http://www.pacherbs.com or call 877-818-9990877-818-9990 or email pacherbs(at)gmail(dot)com.

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Read this blurb about someone pursuing Sidda medicine, some of which is apparently chaneled onto special leaves.
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Australia hosts a natural health conference:

An international conference to be held at The University of Queensland later this month is set to scrutinise research into complementary medicine (CM) and its role in health care.

The conference will be opened by the Federal Parliamentary Secretary for Health, the Hon. Mark Butler.

National and international members of the Network of Researchers in the Public Health of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NORPHCAM) will converge on the UQ St Lucia campus for the event on October 17 and 18.

“The idea of the conference is to develop research that directly addresses health policy and health service delivery challenges and opportunities associated with complementary medicine," the Executive Director of NORPHCAM, Associate Professor Jon Adams said.

"It will also look at their increasing integration alongside conventional medical provision, and provide a platform to allow researchers and practitioners to communicate effectively."

Over two days a number of presentations and workshops will focus on how researchers and practitioners can better collaborate and look at exploring the potential role of complementary medicine in healthcare policy, practice and delivery.

“To date, attention has focused upon niche areas of research and no one has stepped back and looked at the whole picture, reflecting on the wider consequences of CM practice and use within the health care system,” Associate Professor Adams said.

The conference will be held at St Leo's College, St Lucia Campus, UQ.

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Conference below on autism, ADD and alternative therapies:

Oct 01, 2009 – Fayetteville, NC -- John C. Pittman, MD, of the Raleigh-based Carolina Center for Integrative Medicine, will be speaking about integrative medical treatment for Autism & ADD at the conference titled “Positive Results for Autism & Attention Deficit Disorders!” on Monday, October 26th. The event, sponsored by the Fayetteville-based Autism Answers, will be from 8:30AM – 4:30PM at Manna Church located at 630 Executive Place in Fayetteville.

Dr. Pittman received his medical degree from Mercer University in Macon, Georgia and attended the Pediatric Residency Program at NC Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem. He is the only local physician fully certified in chelation therapy for the treatment of heavy metal toxicity and only one of six medical practitioners in the state of North Carolina who is certified through the American Board of Clinical Metal Toxicology. Currently serving as President of the North Carolina Integrative Medical Society (NCIMS), Dr. Pittman was recognized by Business Leader magazine as one of their 2008 Triangle Impact Health Care Leaders, and more recently received Triangle Business Journal’s 2009 Health Care Heroes Award.

Autism is a severe developmental disorder that begins at birth or within the first two-and-a-half years of life. It is a disease of multiple causes wherein environmental toxins and nutritional deficiencies may play a major role. Research now indicates that certain genes may make some individuals more vulnerable to the effects of toxins or pollutants. Dr. Pittman is among the few physicians in the state trained by the Autism Research Institute to deliver the Defeat Autism Now! protocol, which addresses the interrelated problems of brain inflammation, intestinal yeast overgrowth, nutritional deficiencies, and disorders of detoxification that give way to neurotoxic overload. Dr. Pittman explains that his clinic’s research-based approach focuses on issues that are common to virtually all autistic children, including liver dysfunction, toxic overload, nutritional deficiencies, yeast overgrowth, dysbiosis, and other forms of intestinal discord.

“Many cases of autism can be greatly improved, or even reversed if caught early enough, by looking at the liver, addressing the GI [gastrointestinal] tract and immune system problems we often see in these kids, and making targeted dietary changes,” explains Dr. Pittman. “Certain dietary strategies are often very helpful and tend to make other strategies far more effective.”

Dr. Pittman says that the most common dietary strategy is to eliminate certain “trigger” foods, such as casein-containing dairy products, wheat and other gluten sources, sugar, chocolate, preservatives, and food coloring. Many individuals with autism have poor nutritional status, poor digestion, and GI inflammatory conditions that limit nutrient absorption. Following a natural diet (as described above) and addressing food sensitivities or food allergies can help reduce stress to the GI tract, and, by extension, to the brain of the child with autism.

Becky Givens, founder of Autism Answers and a social worker who has worked with developmental delays and mental illness for over 20 years, agrees with addressing the issue of diet and says that people need to be more aware of what they are putting into their mouths and body.

“Through this conference, I want people to see that their diet and nutrition are critical to their lifestyle,” says Givens. “The highly refined and processed American diet is truly detrimental to our health and we have to change the way we eat in order to affect change in our life. Recovery from autism and attention deficit disorder are possible, and I encourage anyone dealing with these issues—whether they’re a parent, educator, or physician, to attend the seminar and learn how we’re changing the way autism and ADD are viewed.”

“Positive Results for Autism & Attention Deficit Disorders!” will include training in behavioral and environmental interventions to assist with learning and relationship building, medical information on the Defeat Autism Now! Protocol, and understanding the role nutrition plays in these disorders and dietary interventions. Joining Dr. Pittman and Givens as presenters will be Brenda Cobb, founder and director of the Living Foods Institute, and Steven Plog, founder of The Results Project and published author of Excalibur.

Registration before October 18th is $45 for parents, $55 for professionals, and $25 for full-time students. After October 18th, costs are $55 for parents, $65 for professionals, and $35 for full-time students. For more information or to register, visit http://myautismanswers.org or call (910) 868-6868(910) 868-6868.
About the Carolina Center for Integrative Medicine The Carolina Center utilizes a combination of advanced complementary and alternative therapies, along with dietary and lifestyle modifications, to treat a wide variety of chronic illnesses and immune system dysfunctions. Along with individually tailored nutritional and botanical regimens, the Center utilizes a number of innovative approaches, including Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, Colon Hydrotherapy, IV Glutathione, Cellular and Bioenergetic Testing, and various strategies for Biological Detoxification to help patients with chronic exposures to heavy metals, mold, parasites, and multiple chemicals. For more information, call (919) 571-4391(919) 571-4391 or visit www.carolinacenter.com.

About Autism Answers Autism Answers is a non-profit corporation that provides treatment options for children that have Autism, are on the Autism Spectrum, or still undiagnosed. This is the only agency in North Carolina to provide a multi-faceted treatment model that combines medical, nutritional, and behavioral techniques to change the course of Autism. The mission of Autism Answers is to help change the course of autism by providing information and effective treatment options to individuals and families, allowing them to maximize their quality of life. For more information, visit www.myautismanswers.org.